The story of Kim

Kim, a graphic designer who found her place by becoming self-employed.

Kim

Find your place by becoming self-employed

Kim is a graphic designer who attended the Let’s Start Up Program in 2019, in the Laurentian region.

A professional environment that brought her close to burnout

For more than 15 years, Kim worked as a graphic designer in a professional environment that did not allow her to fully develop her potential. From a printing company to a design firm to a large corporation to a local newspaper, she has worked at many jobs that did not meet her expectations and did not offer a work-life balance. Just when she thought she had finally found a job that would allow her to excel, she was confronted with a boss who challenged all her creations. She resigned with a shattered confidence in her abilities, exhausted by this negative work environment.

Kim didn’t know where she stood, or even what she wanted to do, but with two children, she had to come up with a plan soon. So she decided to take on a few graphic design contracts to make a little money before finding her true career path.

Find a career path with the Let’s Start Up program

In 2020, Kim signed up for the Let’s Start Up program. She knew nothing about entrepreneurship, but the more she learned, the more interested she became!

It was during the training that she met other women, who are now her friends. Guided by the program’s advisor, they were able to discuss their reality as women, mothers, and entrepreneurs without judgment. According to her, the difference between the Let’s Start Up program and other entrepreneurship programs is that it is adapted to the reality of the women it accompanies.

After completing the Let’s Start Up program, Kim continues to be supported by the Foundation no matter what her questions or problems are. She never misses an opportunity to sign up for the Foundation’s continuing education activities: free training offered by experts in the field, lunch and learn sessions, networking, etc. At the same time, she continues to be accompanied by the entrepreneurial coach through monthly meetings. These meetings allow her to take a step back and undo her limiting beliefs that prevent her from moving forward. According to her, having someone who listens to her, who asks her questions, who makes her think and who gives her advice to help her, is gold!

I have grown so much in 3 years thanks to the meetings with the entrepreneurship coach. I gained confidence and took action. I came out of our meetings with a sense of well-being and a new energy. Of course, if it wasn’t free, I wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of it, because it didn’t fit into my start-up budget. Today, I see that the development of my business goes much faster with a coach to guide and support me!

Today, Kim feels extremely fortunate to have benefited from this extraordinary program free of charge, as she was not receiving any income during this period. She now offers her graphic design services (Kim Morin Design) to many clients, including the Lise Watier Foundation and women in the Let’s Start Up program. She also has several recurring clients, and her sales are increasing year after year. She is proud of her business and of the balance she has achieved in her life to prioritize her family. In short, it is with great gratitude that she says that the Let’s Start Up program is strongly associated with her success, both personally and professionally!